Artist{40 s tool and brush receptacle and conditioner

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed herein an artist&#39;&#39;s tool and brush receptacle and conditioner comprising an open receptacle having a bottom wall and an upstanding continuous side wall. A base member is disposed in the receptacle and has an upper surface terminating below the upper edge of the side wall. The base member has at least one inclined groove in the surface thereof, with the lower portion of the groove being disposed above the bottom wall. The upper portion of the groove is larger in cross-section than the lower portion of the groove. The side wall has at least one slot in the upper edge thereof, the slot facing the groove, with the longitudinal axis of the slot lying in substantially the same vertical plane as the longitudinal axis of the groove. Upon the placement of an associated artist&#39;&#39;s brush on the receptacle with the outer end of the handle of the brush disposed in the slot and the lower portion of the handle of the brush disposed in the groove, the groove operates to support the brush above the bristles thereof while maintaining the bristles of the brush above the bottom wall of the receptacle and substantially out of contact with any portion of the receptacle.

United States Patent 1191 Linger [111 3,776,371 1451 Dec. 4 1973 ARTISTS TOOL AND BRUSH RECEPTACLE AND CONDITIONER [76] Inventor: Harrison K. Linger, 7412 Springvale Dr., Louisville, Ky.

[22] Filed: May 12, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 252,876

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 69,565, Sept. 4, 1970, Pat. No. 3,671,992, and a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 866,471, Oct. 15, 1969, Pat. No.

[52] U.S. Cl 206/1.7, 206/72, 312/351 [51] Int. Cl M44! 3/00, B65d 1/34 [58] Field of Search l5/l04.92, 146;

1s/257.05; 206/17, 1.8, 1.9, 15.1 A, 15.1 B, 45 45 1 .2 1 2.11/6 .2.9! 1352492191 111, 113; 312/351; 229/25 R 158,826 3/1905 Germany 15/257.073

Primary Examiner-William T. Dixson, Jr. Assistant ExaminerSteven E. Liprnan Attorney-Ronald A. Sandler [5 7 ABSTRACT There is disclosed herein an artists tool and brush receptacle and conditioner comprising an open receptacle having a bottom wall and an upstanding continuous side wall. A base member is disposed in the receptacle and has an upper surface terminating below the upper edge of the side wall. The base member has at least one inclined groove in the surface thereof, with the lower portion of the groove being disposed above the bottom wall. The upper portion of the groove is larger in cross-section than the lower portion of the groove. The side wall has at least one slot in the upper edge thereof, the slot facing the groove, with the longitudinal axis of the slot lying in substantially the same vertical plane as the longitudinal axis of the groove. Upon the placement of an associated artists brush on the receptacle with the outer end of the handle of the brush disposed in the slot and the lower portion of the handle of the brush disposed in the groove, the groove operates to support the brush above the bristles thereof while maintaining the bristles of the brush above the bottom wall of the receptacle and substantially out of contact with any portion of the receptacle.

16 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures This invention relates generally to artists tool and brush receptacles and conditioning structures, and is a continuation-in-part of the applicants co-pending US. Pat. application Ser. No. 69,565, filed Sept. 4, I970, for ARTISTS TOOL AND CONDITIONING STRUC- TURE, now US. Pat. No. 3,671,992, which application was a continuation-in-part of applicants then copending US. Pat. applicationSer. No. 866,471, filed Oct. 15, 1969, for ARTIST PALE'I'IE AND CARRY- ING CASE, now US. Pat. No. 3,650,589.

A problem frequently encountered by the artist, especially when painting with oils or acrylics which require extended soaking in cleaningsolutions, is the deformation of the brush bristles when the brush is placed in a container having the cleaning solution therein. Some devices having moving parts have been devised to hold a number of brushes in the receptacle while keeping the bristlesthereof out of contact with the receptacle, but those devices are unwieldy in use and impractical release of the device to remove or insert a tially out of contact with the receptacle, thereby elimihating the usual deformation of the bristles which occurs when a brush is disposed within a mixing cup or other container where the bristles reston the botto wall of the container. I

' A further object of the invention is to providemeans for supporting an artists-brush in the manner described without moving parts, whereby a-brush may easily be placed within the receptacle and removed therefrom without interfering with the positioning of other brushes disposed within the receptacle.

It is a further object of the invention to provide brush support means of the character described which is capable of supporting brushes having handles of various cross-sectional configurations and areas.

A further object of the invention is to provideand artists tool conditioning structure which includes means for permitting the soaking of the paint brushes or other tools soiled with paint pigment and includes structure for working the associated ends of such tools and brushes to loosen and remove the paint from the ends thereof. I

A further object of the invention is to provide a rece'ptacle for use by the artist which has structure therein which permits the artist to remove excess materials from the brush or tool used by him either by scraping or wiping the materials therefrom, which then permits the artist to store the brushes within the receptacle ina manner such that the bristle ends thereof will not be deformed during extensive periods of soaking, and further provides means for positioning of the cleaned brush in a convenient location on the receptacle such that any excess material on the brush which may drip from the bristles and down the handle will be directed into the receptacle.

A further object of the invention is to provide struc- I ture which allows the artist to clean his tools without disturbing other tools which may be disposed within the receptacle, suitable means being provided for allowing the artist to scrape, strip or wipe excess or residue material from the ends of the tools.

Further features of the invention pertain to the particular arrangement of the elements of the artist's tool and brush receptacle andconditioning structure,

whereby the above-outlined and additional advantages v thereof are attained.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood with reference to the following specification taken in connection withthc accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the artists tool and brush receptacle and conditioner incorporating the featuresof the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view taken in the direction of the arrows 22 in FIG. 1, a part of the receptacle being broken away forclarity and illustrating artists paint brushes at two different locations in the receptacle;

FIG. 3 is a plan. view of the receptacle of FIG. I, with part of the tool conditioning means thereof broken away; e 1

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 44 of FIG. 3; g I

FIG. 5 is a plan view of part of the tool conditioning structure when removed from the receptacle;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the tooland brush conditioning structure as removed from the associated receptacle, taken in the direction of the arrows 6-6 in.

FIG. 5;

. FIG. 7 is a partial elevational view taken in the direc tion of the arrows 7-7 in FIG. 4, illustrating the tool and brush conditioning structure of FIGS. 5 and 6 in position on the associated receptacle.

With reference now to FIGS. 1 through 4, the artists tool and brush receptacle and conditioner is seen to comprise a generally rectangular open receptacle designated 10; the receptacle 10 including a bottom wall 11 and'a continuous upstanding side wall having 0pposed end wall portions 12 and 13, a front wall portion 14 and a rear wall portion 15.

The receptacle 10 further includes an outwardly extending flange 16 about the entire periphery of the side wall of the receptacle 10. As illustrated in the drawings, the wall portions l2, l3, l4 and 15 of the receptacle 10 are outwardly inclined relative to the bottom wall 11, while the peripheral flange 16 also is inclined at-a slight angle relative to theside wall portions.

Disposed within the receptacle .10' and adjacentto the rear wall 15 is a base member designated generally as 20. As best seen in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the base mem ber 20 includes an outer surface 21. The base member 20 is humpor arch-like in cross-section, as illustrated in FIG. 2, and preferably is formed integrally with the receptacle 10.

The base member 20 includes a plurality of grooves 22 and 23 therein, the grooves being disposed in alternating facing relationship relative to the end wall portions 12 and 13. The pair of grooves designated generally as 22 face the end wall 12 and the second pair of clined relative to the bottom wall 11 of thereceptacle l0 and each groove is disposed transversely of the longitudinalaxis of the base member 20. The lower portion 228 and 23B of each groove 22 and 23, respectively, terminates above the bottom wall 11.

The top of each of the grooves is larger in cross.- section than the bottom thereof, and in the preferred embodiment illustrated, each groove is generally conical in cross-section. The upper portion of each groove extends past the center point of the base member 20, as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3.

Each of the end wall portions 12 and 13 has a pair of slots 24 and 25, respectively, formed in the upper edges thereof, the slots 24, 25 extending outwardly into the peripheral flange 16. In the embodiment illustrated, each of the slots also has a partially conical configuration. The longitudinal axes of the pair of slots 24 lie in substantially the same vertical plane as the longitudinal axes of the corresponding pair of grooves 23, while the longitudinal axes of the slots 25 lie in corresponding vertical planes with the longitudinal axes of the grooves As seen in FIG. 3, each of the slots 24 faces, or is closer to, the upper portion of the corresponding grooves 23, so that the slots 24 and grooves 23 are inclined in the same direction relative to the bottom wall 11. Similarly the slots 25 and grooves 22 are inclined in the same direction relative to the bottom wall 11, but opposite in direction to the slots 24 and grooves 23.

The grooves 22, 23 in the 'base member and the slots 24, 25 in the respective end wall portions 12 and 13 cooperate to support an artists paint brush in a manner which prevents the bristles thereof from becoming deformed during the soaking process. This is accomplished by supporting the brush so that during soaking the bristles of the brush are substantially out of contact with any part of the receptacle.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, each paintbrush 26 includes an elongated handle 27 and a metal band or ferrule 28 connected to one portion of the handle 27. The metal band 28 operates to hold the bristles 29 on the handle. The typical brush 26 is tapered from the upper portion of the handle 27to an enlarged section near the top of the metal band 28 and then tapers down to the bristles 29. The metal band 28 may be round or flattened on the sides, such variations determining whether the bristles will be arranged in a flat or round condition. In either instance, however, there is normally a tapered portion just above the bristles.

The brush 26 is supported in a cleaning solution in the receptacle 10 in the following manner: The top or slimmer part of the brush handle 27 would be disposed on the flange 16 with the handle lying within one of the slots 24 or 25. The lower portion of the brush handle 27 is disposed within one of the corresponding grooves 22 or 23 that is in alignment with the slot in the flange. The inclination of the slots and grooves causes the brush to slide down the groove toward the bottom of the receptacle. Because the grooves are larger in crosssection at the tops than at the bottoms thereof, the metal band 28 and/or brush handle 27 engages the surrounding side surfaces of the grooves until those surfaces operate to frictionally engage the lowermost portion of the brush or the metal band 28 and prevent the brush from further downward movement within the groove.

The angle of the bottommost surface .of the grooves preferably is slightly less than the angle of the bottommost surface of the corresponding slots relative to the bottom wall 11. By providing the slight difference in angles, the lower portion of the metal band 28 of the brush will be substantially in the main contact area of the corresponding groove.

In the preferred'embodiment, eachslot is approximately one inch long and the bottommost. surface thereof is disposed at about a 30 angle relative to the bottom wall 1] of the receptacle 10. Each groove 22 and 23 is aboutthree inches long and the lowermost surface of each is disposed at an angle of about 27 relative to the bottom wall 11 of the container 10.

In operation, the brush 26 would be placed within the receptacle, bristles down, with the lower portion of the handle 27 disposed in one of the grooves 22 or 23 and the upper end in one of the corresponding slots 24 or 25. Because of the angle of the grooves, the brush tends to slide down the groove. As the lower end of the brush descends within the groove it engages the. reduced cross-sectional portion thereof and, because each groove is at a slightly lower angle than the corresponding slot, the groove causes the lower end of the brush to move upwardly. The upward reaction combined with the added frictional engagement at the reduced crosssectional portion of the groove-eventually balances the downward component of force and equilibrium is established so that the brush is held stationary within the receptacle with the bristles suspended above the bottom wall thereof. With the brush in such position, deformation of the bristles during long periods of soaking is avoided.

The upper slots provide the added functions of facilitating placement of the handle of the brush within the grooves when the base member 20 is totally covered with a cleaning solution so as to be obscured from the artist, and, in addition, they prevent relative movement of the upper end of the brush handle relative to the flange and thus prevent the brush from rolling out of the corresponding groove. 7

By alternating the direction of inclination of the adjacent grooves, it is possible to remove brushes from the receptacle or place new brushesin the receptacle while minimizing inadvertent dislodgement of brushes which may be positioned in adjacent grooves.

Because each of the grooves is substantially conical in cross-section, various size brushes can be properly supported within the receptacle as the brushes simply slide down the groove until the metal band thereof makes sufficient frictional engagement with a narrower portion of the conical groove so as to preclude further movement of the brush. The arch-like configuration of the base member 20 facilitates placement of the associated brushes within the appropriate grooves by minimizing the overall height of the base member at the location of the groove, while still permitting the grooves to be inclined at the appropriate angle relative to the bottom wall of the receptacle. The bottommost surface cle l0.

ods of soaking, and further provides means for positioning of the cleaned brush in a convenient location on the receptacle in a manner wherein any excess material will be conditioning and cleaning structure includes a semicylindrical channel 41 extending outwardly from the front wall portion 14 of the receptacle 10. As best illus-. trated in FIG. 4, the longitudinal axis of the channel 41 is inclined downwardlytoward the bottom wall 11. The outer edge of the cylindrical channel 41 is provided with a vertically extending lip 42 having a relatively sharp edge 42a, whereby the artist may wipe the end of a tool across the edge 42a of the lip 42 to scrape off excess material from the tool. Because the cylindrical channel 41 is inclined relative to the bottom of the receptacle, the excess materials scraped from the tool slide down the cylindrical channel 41 into the recepta- To further facilitate cleaning of the various tools used by the artist, tool conditioning means 45 is removably carried by the semicylindrical channel 41.

The tool conditioning means 45 includes a U-shaped member 46 having flanges 47 extending outwardly from the upper ends of each leg of the U. The outwardly extending flanges 47 are positionable in notches 43 provided on opposed walls of the semi-cylindrical channel 41.

A pair of fingers 48 extend upwardly from the opposite. legs of the U-shaped member 46 and in part overlap onto the outwardly extending flanges 47. Each of the fingers 48 includes a semi-cylindrical face 49, with the semi-cylindrical faces being disposed in facing relationship. The semi-cylindrical faces 49 further are inclined relative to-one another so that when the tool conditioning means 45 is in a relaxed condition, there is an included angle of about between the closest portions of the faces 49. The space between the faces 49 defines a substantially V-shaped slot 50. Each of thefingers 48 further includes a flat portion 51 on the outer surfaces thereof, the flat portions 51 providing means to facilitate inward pressure on the fingers 48 to cause the cylindrical portions 49 to close upon each other.

The tool conditioning means 45 is formed of a semirigid material such as polyethylene, polypropylene or.

The bottom wall 11 of the receptacle is provided with I a series of parallel ribs or ridges -18'disposed substantially perpendicular to the end wall portions 12 and 13.

The artist may use the ribs 18 to loosen materials near the ferrule of the brushby stroking the bristles of the brush back and forth across the raised ridges of ribs disposed on the bottom wall 11 of the receptacle 10.

As one operation in the cleaning of a brush, the artist .may wish to loosen materials near the ferrule 28 of the brush 26. This may be accomplished by stroking the bristles of the brush back and forth across the raised the edge 42a of the lip v42. 1n the case of a brush, it may i be rotated in order that each side of the bristles can be scraped.

Next, the bristles of the brush are disposed within the slot 50 of the tool conditining means 45. The faces 51 of the tool conditioning means 45 are compressed by 'the artist, thereby to cause constriction of the fingers 48, and thus the slot 50, about the bristles of the brush. When the slot is constricted and a compressive force applied to the brush bristles, the brush is moved longitudinally through the constricted slot, thereby remov-- ing the pigment within thebristles. This action replaces the hand squeezing and wiping which is the conventional method of cleaning the brush.

slot.50 is disposed approximately 60 from the bottom ture illustrated in applicant's aforementioned copending US. Pat. application Ser. No. 69,565. The symmetrical design permits insertion of the tool conditioning means in opposite directions relative to the channel 41.

wall 11. The canting-of the tool conditioning means is accomplished by positioning the flanges 47 into the inclined slots 43 formed at the appropriate angle relative to the bottom wall 11 of the receptacle. Angles between to 80 relative to the base or'bottom wall 1 l are satisfactory, with being preferred.

By causing the slot 50 of the tool conditioning means to be tilted or canted at this angle, two desirable functions are accomplishedzFirst, it allows the run-off m'aterial stripped from the tool to fall forwardly along the channel 41 and into the receptacle 10. Second, canting allows movement of the tool at an inclined angle which is more natural to the user.

After such prelimianry cleaning, it may be desirable to allow the brush to soak in the cleaning solution within the receptacle, and the brush would then be placed in an avialable groove 22, 23, as earlier described. A

After soaking the brush, means are provided on the.

receptacle 10 to hold the brush in an upright position with the bristles extending substantially vertically, as

illustrated in FIG. 2, so that the brush is readily available for use. This is accomplished by placing the handle of the brush through pockets designated generally as 30, located in the end wall portion 15. Each pocket 30 includes a horizontally directed bottom surface 31 and a generally cylindrical side surface 32 interconnecting the peripheral flange l6 and the rear wall 15. An aperture 33 is provided in the bottom surface 31' of each of the pockets 30, the aperture 33 serving to receive the lower end of the handle 27 of the paint brush 26 as illustrated in H6. 2. The apertures 33 may be of different sizes, thereby to accommodate brushes having handles of varying diameters. In operation the brush 26 would be inserted with the handle 27 through the aperture 33, preferably the handle extending far enough through the aperture to contact the surface upon which the receptacle is resting. The pockets operate to direct into the receptacle any excess material which drips from the bristles and down the handle of the bursh, the material dripping down along the peripheral flange or cylindrical side wall 32 and being directed by the bottom surface 31 toward the inside of the receptacle 10. The pocket 30 also tends to prevent extreme movement of the brush relative to the receptacle; also by inclining the rear wall portion relative to the bottom wall 10 the brush is positioned at a slight angle such that it is inclined away from the receptacle and therefore would not interfere with the placement of additional brushes in the receptacle. By providing apertures 33 of varying diameter such that the brushes are fric tionally engaged therein, it is possible to move the receptaele from one location to another without fear of brushes dropping through the apertures.

Although not illustrated, the end wall 26 of the bas member may be extended so as to provide a complete dividing wall within the receptacle 10 whereby there will be two sumps provided within the receptacle, a first sump within which the brushes are suspended by the base member in a relatively clear cleaning solution, while the second sump operates primarily to receive the exesss materials fromthe tools during use of the tools in painting and when the tools are worked against the ridges 18, or scraped across the lip 42, or wiped or squeezed by the tool conditioning means 45.

While there has been described what is presently thought to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. I

What is claimed is:

1. An artists tool and brush receptacle and conditioner, comprising an open receptacle having a bottom wall and an upstanding side wall, a base member disposed in said receptacle, said base member having at least one inclined groove in the surface thereof, the lower portion of said groove being disposed above said bottom wall, the upper portion of said groove being larger in cross-section than the lower portion of said groove, said side wall having at least one slot in the upper edge thereof and facing said groove, the longitudinal axis of said slot lying in substantially the same ver tical plane as the longitudinal axis of said groove, whereby upon the placement of an associated artists brush in said receptacle with the lower portion of the handle of the brush disposed in said groove and the upper portion of the handle disposed in said slot, said groove operates to support the brush above the bristles thereof while maintaining the bristles of the brush above said bottom wall and substantially outof contact with any portion of said receptacle, thereby to eliminate deformation of the bristles while the brush is in the receptacle, while said slot facilitates placement of said brush in said groove and prevents the brush from rolling along said side wall of said receptacle.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein said upstanding side wall includes an outwardly extending peripheral flange and said slot is disposed partially in said flange and partially in the upper edge of said side wall.

3. The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein said side wall includes at least two portions disposed substantially parallel to each other and on opposite sides of said base member, said base member has a plurality of grooves therein with some of said grooves being inclined toward one of said side wall portions and others of said grooves being inclined toward the other side wall portion and each of said side wall portions has a corresponding number of slots therein in the same respective vertical planes as said plurality of grooves.

4. The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein said side wall further includes means defining at least one pocket therein, said pocket including ahorizontally directed bottom surface and a generally cylindrical side surface interconnecting said bottom surface and said receptacle side wall, said bottom surface of said pocket having an aperture therethrough adapted to receive the lower end of an associated artists brush to hold the brush in a substantially vertical position when the brush is not in use, said pocket serving to direct waste materials from the brush into said receptacle.

5. An artists tool and brush receptacle and conditioner, comprising an open receptacle having a bottom wall and an upstanding side wall, a base member disposed in said receptacle and having an upper surface terminating below the upper edge of said side wall, said base member being substantially arch-like in crosssection and having at least one inclined groove in the upper surface thereof, said groove being disposed transversely of the longitudinal axis of said base member and the lower portion of said groove terminating above said bottom wall, said groove being substantially conical in cross-section with the larger end thereof being disposed substantially at the top of said base member, said side wall having at least one slot in the upper edge thereof facing the upper portion of said groove, the longitudinal axis of said slot lying in substantially the same vertical plane as the longitudinal axis of said groove, whereby upon the placement of an associated artists paint brush in said receptacle with the upper portion of the handle of said brush disposed in said slot and the lower portion of the handle of the brush disposed in said groove, said groove operates to support the brush above the bristles thereof while maintaining the bristles of the brush above said bottom wall and substantially out of contact with any portion of said receptacle, while said slot prevents the upper portion of the brush-from rolling off the side wall of said receptacle.

6. The structure set forth in claim 5, wherein the lowermost surface of said slot is inclined at an angle of about 30 relative to said bottom wall and the lowermost surface of said groove is inclined at an angle of about 27 relative to said bottom wall, whereby the lower portion of the associated artists brush will be in contact with a substantial portion of said groove.

7. The structure set forth in claim 5, wherein said side wall includes at least two portions disposed substantially parallel to each other and on opposite sides of said base member, said base member has a plurality of grooves therein with some of said grooves being inclined toward one of said side wall portions and others of said grooves being inclined toward the other of said 9 side Wall portions and each of said side wall portions has a corresponding number of 'slots therein in the same respective vertical planes as said plurality of grooves,

8. The structure set forth in claim 5, wherein said upstanding side wall includes an outwardly extending peripheral flange and said slot is disposed partially in said flange and partially in the upper edge of said side wall.

9. The structure set forth'in claim 8, wherein the lowermost surface of said slot is inclined at an angle of about 30 relative to, said bottom wall and the lowerlip of the working end of an associated artists tool causes excess materials to be scraped from the tool and to flow down said channel into said receptacle.

11; The structure set forth in claim 10, and further including tool conditioning means removably carried in said cylindrical channel, said tool conditioning means havinga substantially V-shaped slot therein for receiv ing the working end of an associated artists tool, said tool conditioning means being formed of a semi-rigid material whereby opposed inward pressure on said tool conditioning means in the direction of said slot causes constriction of said slot and the application of compressive force on the end of the associated artists tool in said slot, whereby upon longitudinal movement of the end of the associated artists tool through said constricted slot said tool conditioning means operates to squeeze out waste materials on the working end of the associated artists tool, with said waste materials being directed by said channel into said receptacle.

12. The structure set forth in claim 11, wherein said tool conditioning means comprises a' generally U- shaped member having flanges extending outwardly from the respective upper end of 'each leg of said U, said outwardly extending flanges being disposable in notches formed in said cylindrical channel whereby said flanges and said U-shaped portion are removably positionable in said channel; a pair of fingers extending upwardly from said U shaped portion, said fingers each including a semicylindrical portion facing one another, said semicylindrical portions being inclined at approximately 15 relative to each other when said tool conditioning means is in a relaxed condition so as to define a substantially V -shaped slot therebetween, said fingers each including a flat portion thereon to facilitate the movement toward each other of said semi-cylindrical upper edge thereof, the longitudinal axis of said slot said groove and said slot operate to support the brush above the bristles thereof while maintaining the bristles of the brush 'above said bottom wall and substantially out of contact with any portion of said receptacle,

thereby to eliminate deformation of the bristles while the brush is in the receptacle, said slot also facilitating placement of said brush in said groove andpreventing the brush from rolling along said side wall of said receptacle. I p

14. The structure set forth in claim 13, wherein the lowermost surface of said slot is inclined at an angle of about relative to said bottom wall and the lowerportions and thereby close said slot and provide a compressive force on the 'end of the associated tool disposed in said slot.

13. An artists tool and brush receptacle and conditioner, comprising an open receptacle having a bottom wall and an upstanding side wall, a base member disposed in said receptacle, s'aid base member having at most surface of said groove is inclined at an angle of about 27 relative to said bottom wall, whereby' the lower portion of the associated artists brush will be in contact with a substantial portion of said groove.

15. An artists tool and brush receptacle and conditioner, comprising an open receptacle having a bottom wall and an upstanding side wall, a base member dis posed in said receptacle, said base member having at least one inclined groove in the surface thereof, the

lower portion of said groove being disposed above said bottom wall, the upper portion of said groove being larger in cross-section than the lower portion of said groove, whereby upon the placement of an associated artists brush in said receptacle with the lower portion of the handle of the brush disposed in said groove, said groove operates to support the brush above the bristles thereof while maintaining the bristles of the brush above said bottom wall and substantially out of contact with any portion of said receptacle, thereby to eliminate deformation ofthe bristles while the brush is in the receptacle, said side wall including a generally cylindrical channel therein having an upstanding lip portion at the outer edge thereof, whereby the movement across said lip of the working end of an associated artists tool causes excess materials to be scraped from the tool and to flow down said channel into said receptacle.

16. The structure set'forth in claim 15, and further including tool conditioning means removably carried in said cylindrical channel, said tool conditioning means having a substantially V-shaped slot therein for receiving the working end of an associated artists tool, said tool conditioning-means being formed of a semi-rigid material whereby opposed inward pressure on said tool conditioning means in thedirection of said slot causes constriction of said slot and the application of compressive force on the end of the associated artists tool in said slot, whereby upon longitudinal movement of the end of the associated artists tool through said constricted slot said tool conditioning meansoperates to squeeze'out waste materials on the working end of the associated artists tool, with said waste materials being directed by said channel into said receptacle. 

1. An artist''s tool and brush receptacle and conditioner, comprising an open receptacle having a bottom wall and an upstanding side wall, a base member disposed in said receptacle, said base member having at least one inclined groove in the surface thereof, the lower portion of said groove being disposed above said bottom wall, the upper portion of said groove being larger in cross-section than the lower portion of said groove, said side wall having at least one slot in the upper edge thereof and facing said groove, the longitudinal axis of said slot lying in substantially the same vertical plane as the longitudinal axis of said groove, whereby upon the placement of an associated artist''s brush in said receptacle with the lower portion of the handle of the brush disposed in said groove and the upper portion of the handle disposed in said slot, said groove operates to support the brush above the bristles thereof while maintaining the bristles of the brush above said bottom wall and substantially out of contact with any portion of said receptacle, thereby to eliminate deformation of the bristles while the brush is in the receptacle, while said slot facilitates placement of said brush in said groove and prevents the brush from rolling along said side wall of said receptacle.
 2. The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein said upstanding side wall includes an outwardly extending peripheral flange and said slot is disposed partially in said flange and partially in the upper edge of said side wall.
 3. The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein said side wall includes at least two portions disposed substantially parallel to each other and on opposite sides of said base member, said base member has a plurality of grooves therein with some of said grooves being inclined toward one of said side wall portions and others of said grooves being inclined toward the other side wall portion and each of said side wall portions has a corresponding number of slots therein in the same respective vertical planes as said plurality of grooves.
 4. The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein said side wall further includes means defining at least one pocket therein, said pocket including a horizontally directed bottom surface and a generally cylindrical side surface interconnecting said bottom surface and said receptacle side wall, said bottom surface of said pocket having an aperture therethrough adapted to receive the lower end of an associated artist''s brush to hold the brush in a substantially vertical position when the brush is not in use, said pocket serving to direct waste materials from the brush into said receptacle.
 5. An artist''s tool and brush receptacle and conditioner, comprising an open receptacle having a bottom wall and an upstanding side wall, a base member disposed in said receptacle and having an upper surface Terminating below the upper edge of said side wall, said base member being substantially arch-like in cross-section and having at least one inclined groove in the upper surface thereof, said groove being disposed transversely of the longitudinal axis of said base member and the lower portion of said groove terminating above said bottom wall, said groove being substantially conical in cross-section with the larger end thereof being disposed substantially at the top of said base member, said side wall having at least one slot in the upper edge thereof facing the upper portion of said groove, the longitudinal axis of said slot lying in substantially the same vertical plane as the longitudinal axis of said groove, whereby upon the placement of an associated artist''s paint brush in said receptacle with the upper portion of the handle of said brush disposed in said slot and the lower portion of the handle of the brush disposed in said groove, said groove operates to support the brush above the bristles thereof while maintaining the bristles of the brush above said bottom wall and substantially out of contact with any portion of said receptacle, while said slot prevents the upper portion of the brush from rolling off the side wall of said receptacle.
 6. The structure set forth in claim 5, wherein the lowermost surface of said slot is inclined at an angle of about 30* relative to said bottom wall and the lowermost surface of said groove is inclined at an angle of about 27* relative to said bottom wall, whereby the lower portion of the associated artist''s brush will be in contact with a substantial portion of said groove.
 7. The structure set forth in claim 5, wherein said side wall includes at least two portions disposed substantially parallel to each other and on opposite sides of said base member, said base member has a plurality of grooves therein with some of said grooves being inclined toward one of said side wall portions and others of said grooves being inclined toward the other of said side wall portions and each of said side wall portions has a corresponding number of slots therein in the same respective vertical planes as said plurality of grooves.
 8. The structure set forth in claim 5, wherein said upstanding side wall includes an outwardly extending peripheral flange and said slot is disposed partially in said flange and partially in the upper edge of said side wall.
 9. The structure set forth in claim 8, wherein the lowermost surface of said slot is inclined at an angle of about 30* relative to said bottom wall and the lowermost surface of said groove is inclined at an angle of about 27* relative to said bottom wall, whereby the lower portion of the associated artist''s brush will be in contact with a substantial portion of said groove.
 10. The structure set forth in claim 5, wherein said side wall further includes a generally cylindrical channel therein having an upstanding lip portion at the outer edge thereof, whereby the movement across said lip of the working end of an associated artist''s tool causes excess materials to be scraped from the tool and to flow down said channel into said receptacle.
 11. The structure set forth in claim 10, and further including tool conditioning means removably carried in said cylindrical channel, said tool conditioning means having a substantially V-shaped slot therein for receiving the working end of an associated artist''s tool, said tool conditioning means being formed of a semi-rigid material whereby opposed inward pressure on said tool conditioning means in the direction of said slot causes constriction of said slot and the application of compressive force on the end of the associated artist''s tool in said slot, whereby upon longitudinal movement of the end of the associated artist''s tool through said constricted slot said tool conditioning means operates to squeeze out waste materials on the working end of the associated artist''s tool, with said waste Materials being directed by said channel into said receptacle.
 12. The structure set forth in claim 11, wherein said tool conditioning means comprises a generally U-shaped member having flanges extending outwardly from the respective upper end of each leg of said U, said outwardly extending flanges being disposable in notches formed in said cylindrical channel whereby said flanges and said U-shaped portion are removably positionable in said channel; a pair of fingers extending upwardly from said U-shaped portion, said fingers each including a semicylindrical portion facing one another, said semicylindrical portions being inclined at approximately 15* relative to each other when said tool conditioning means is in a relaxed condition so as to define a substantially V-shaped slot therebetween, said fingers each including a flat portion thereon to facilitate the movement toward each other of said semi-cylindrical portions and thereby close said slot and provide a compressive force on the end of the associated tool disposed in said slot.
 13. An artist''s tool and brush receptacle and conditioner, comprising an open receptacle having a bottom wall and an upstanding side wall, a base member disposed in said receptacle, said base member having at least one inclined groove in the surface thereof, the lower portion of said groove being disposed above said bottom wall, the upper portion of said groove being larger in cross-section than the lower portion of said groove, said side wall having at least one slot in the upper edge thereof, the longitudinal axis of said slot lying in substantially the same vertical plane as the longitudinal axis of said groove and the lower surface of said slot being inclined relative to said bottom wall of said receptacle at an angle slightly greater than the angle of inclination of said groove relative to said bottom wall, whereby upon the placement of an associated artist''s brush in said receptacle with the lower portion of the handle of the brush disposed in said groove and the upper portion of the handle disposed in said slot, said groove and said slot operate to support the brush above the bristles thereof while maintaining the bristles of the brush above said bottom wall and substantially out of contact with any portion of said receptacle, thereby to eliminate deformation of the bristles while the brush is in the receptacle, said slot also facilitating placement of said brush in said groove and preventing the brush from rolling along said side wall of said receptacle.
 14. The structure set forth in claim 13, wherein the lowermost surface of said slot is inclined at an angle of about 30* relative to said bottom wall and the lowermost surface of said groove is inclined at an angle of about 27* relative to said bottom wall, whereby the lower portion of the associated artist''s brush will be in contact with a substantial portion of said groove.
 15. An artist''s tool and brush receptacle and conditioner, comprising an open receptacle having a bottom wall and an upstanding side wall, a base member disposed in said receptacle, said base member having at least one inclined groove in the surface thereof, the lower portion of said groove being disposed above said bottom wall, the upper portion of said groove being larger in cross-section than the lower portion of said groove, whereby upon the placement of an associated artist''s brush in said receptacle with the lower portion of the handle of the brush disposed in said groove, said groove operates to support the brush above the bristles thereof while maintaining the bristles of the brush above said bottom wall and substantially out of contact with any portion of said receptacle, thereby to eliminate deformation of the bristles while the brush is in the receptacle, said side wall including a generally cylindrical channel therein having an upstanding lip portion at the outer edge thereof, whereby the movement across said lip of the working end of an associated artist''s tool causes excess materials to be scraped from the tool and to flow down said channel into said receptacle.
 16. The structure set forth in claim 15, and further including tool conditioning means removably carried in said cylindrical channel, said tool conditioning means having a substantially V-shaped slot therein for receiving the working end of an associated artist''s tool, said tool conditioning means being formed of a semi-rigid material whereby opposed inward pressure on said tool conditioning means in the direction of said slot causes constriction of said slot and the application of compressive force on the end of the associated artist''s tool in said slot, whereby upon longitudinal movement of the end of the associated artist''s tool through said constricted slot said tool conditioning means operates to squeeze out waste materials on the working end of the associated artist''s tool, with said waste materials being directed by said channel into said receptacle. 